A New Broadcasting Strategy with Supporting VCR Functions for Near Video-on-Demand Systems

This paper proposes a new video-on-demand (VOD) broadcasting strategy . In our approach, film S is divided into n equal parts and played through k channels. The user simultaneously downloads the film segments from k channels into the set-top-box (STB) and plays them according to their order. The initial p segments in the programmed film will not have fast-forwarding capabilities. With respect to films available on the market, commercials and statements of copyright will always appear in the initial parts. Of course, in view of the providers’ business considerations, not wanting the front parts of the film to be skipped but to be watched is a logical assumption. Every time the user wants to initiate d times fastforwarding, according to our broadcasting strategy, the segments saved in the user’s STB and those that are being continuously downloaded from k channels will be sufficient to provide the user with the portions of the film needed when fast-forwarding is initiated. As such the broadcasting strategy we have proposed not only allows the user to pause and rewind, but also to fast-forward.